Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-11-17
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
The Report and Hill Now Before the
Citizens. RepreSe ntnriye Conn m ttee.

The Report and Hill Now Before the
Citizeas' Representative Commistee.
A REVIEW OF THE LAWS UNDER WHICH TIE YHxE
SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN DEvELofKD-TBs AssuxP-
rroS or POWERS BY TIE COMMISSIONERS CLAIMED
uoSrRs CONDEMNED ALSO BAD PoLIcY-TBR
CONDITION OF THE SCHOOLS PAST AND PxEsKSr-A
PROPOSED Law TO EsTABLfsH A SCHOOL BOARD
WIZ FULL POWERS
A. stated in THE srAK yesterday the sub-com-
mittee on schools Of the Citizens Representative
Committee OF one HUNDRED made a report at the
meeting OF the Committee Tuesday night, and sub
rnitted with IL the form OF bill 60 submit 10 Con-
gress Following Is the full text Of the report and
the bill:
sYour committee, 70 whom was referred num-
Der or reports and resolutions from citizens Asso-
Citations respecting the management OF the public
schools, have had the same under consideration.
drsrt Of a hin ana 10 reconmend that an execu.
tive commiItee be appointed with authority 10
present the same TO Congress, and TO urge its
enactment into law
THE Law OF 1904.
The nrst school law OF the District Of Columbia
was passed by the city council Of Washington, In
December, 1904. and was put in operation In 1905.
II provided for board OF thirteen school trustees
seven 10 be appointed by the council, and six by
contributors 10 a fund in aid OF the councils ap-
preparation OF 81 800 the support Of the schools
Zach contributor was to have as many votes In
the election OF trustees as he contributed sums OF
$40 President jefferson contributed 500, and
consequently was entitled TO twenty votes. He
was chosen a trustee, and also president OF the
board. and accepted in the following letter:
"MoSTIcEiLo, August IA, 1906.
s.s1R.-A considerable Journey Southwardly from
this tpIacel mas prevented my sooner acknowiedg-
ing letters from yourself from Mr.. Gardiner, and
from Mr.. :. II. smith, announcing that had been
hat
schools TO be established In Washington, aud, by
the trustees, 10 preside at their board. receive
with d iSe s,t2 Council and rom the board Of
trustees, and ask the favor Of you 10 tender
them my Just Acknowledgements.
sincerely believing that knowledge promotes
the happiness OF man, shall ever be disposed 10
contribute my endeavors towards II, rs extern
siOn and in the instance under consideration, will
willingly undertake the duties proposed 10 me, so
Tar as others OF paramount obligation will permit
my attention 10 them.
Il pray you TO accept my friendly salutarions
and my assurance OF great respect and esteem.
THOMAS JEEFERsoS.
"RoBKRr BRENT, ESQ.,,
Judge william CraDch was also a member OF
this rrst school board, as were MessrS Munroe,
Duvan, Tingey, Bromley, Tayloe, Smith, Blagden,
Dempsie, King, and the two Brents, Robert ana
The general grant of power to this first school
board was conveyed by the words entire direc-
ton OF public schools" The board was 70 have
''the superintendence' OF these schOOls-Superfn-
meut-and the power Ito pass AL necessary by
laws 80 receive donations" ITO appoint treas
urer," and 40 vest and apply the funds placed
Under their care, In such manner as they shall see
Mt" The city treasurer was required 10 pay over
10 their treasurer the funds appropriated by the
council FOR the support OF the schools.
Under this grant OF power the board established
an Eastern School, on Capitol Hill We suppose.
and a western school," located We have been
told, Just south OF the POst-Office Department
building. The board appointed the teachers and
made all Necessary regulations.
TIE fREE-scBooL DEBATE.
For about forty years the powers OF the school
trustees were not greatly changed, although the
law was several times modified. Mr.. Ould ap-
pears TO have been the most prominent teacher In
the early days, and after MIN Mr.. Henshaw. But
curing this period the public schools appear 10
have been free only 10 the INDECENT Those who
were able paid a tuition fee Tor their children.
About ls4i. under the administration Of Mayor
seaton. warm discussion sprang up, headed BY
the mayor, over proposal 10 levy a tax sufficient
10 make the schools free. good many men OF
national fame took part in the DEBATE, such as
John quincy Adams. Mr. Justice Woodbury., Caleb
Gushing, aud Chas. Hudson, while three clergy
nen-Davis, Bul1nch, and Hale-mainlained the
reputation OF their calling by taxing advanced
ground In favor OF free common schools
In 1872 a report was made py the committee on
schools OF the city council, In which they say:
and forever the schools which are now regarded,
and perhaps properly so, as mere charity schools
and establish IN their stead the public or common
s-ssiple property, and 70 be enjoyed alike by the
rich and the poor. In the system which your COM
mittee contemplate. and which when matured
taey Will submit for your consideration, this
odi0us distinction will be avoided Taxing for
their model the admirable system which has pre-
vailed 30 oenera;ly iD the northern AMI eastern
sections OF the country, and which has been
Gently introduced into our neighDoring States and
cities with such triumphant success, they hope TO
De able 10 present plan which Will meet the fav-
oraole consideration of The council and the public.
whole system OF education, so far as our action
can extend, Will be under the control OF the cor
Poration and Of sneh as.se aud discreet ersons as
OF aldermen and common council, or by the people
themselves In their primary assemblies"
Mr.. j. +. Halliday and Rev. c. A. Davis were the
active members OF the committee, and In Deem
Dr, lS4 just forty years after the rst school law
was passed, the second important Law was en-
acted. which greatly improved the organization Of
the system Under this law the city was divided
into four school Districts and three trustees were
elected annually by the city council from each dis
triet making a school board OF twelve members.
While the board acted as unit In making rules
and regulations, and In all general matters yet
home rUte was the annating principle or the law.
Tie three trustees OF Il district were constituted
''sub-ooard' Tor the practical supervision OF the
schools In their district. The general powers OF
this board OF twelve trustees In the management
of the public schools were substantially the same
will be particularly reeited In the next Law,
hereinafter referred 10. This law OF 1874 however,
was not free school law, for the trustees were
required 10 charge pupils tuition fee In advance
case Of obvious Inability 10 pay tuition could pupils
b. admitted free. This plan both continued and
SOCIAL Cl.tlnctlOuS anu Ul-IecungS, and
was abandoned about 1s4s. Ten years later In
1S)s, was passed the law upon which the present
school system Is based THIS was the principal
sehoollaw In force at the time OF the passage OF
the act OF June H. 1878, providing Tor the present
District government
THE LAW or 1858
This act OF 1855 liked the school board at twelve
members, three from each district as provided In
the act OF 1874. but added the mayor 10 the board
a. It's presiding Officer
The general grant OF power to the board was in
these words, namely: 'Said board shall have the
Encouragement Of ali public schools In the city OF
Washington"
Here ,hen We find the word management en-
plOJed TO convey general grant Of power TO the
scaooi board and further In the IS set forth
In detail what was Included In the grant
-sEc- D. The board Of trustees shall have the
power 20 appoint all teachers, assistant teachers
and suo-assistant teachers which may be author
lied by law, and the same 10 change at pleasure:
10 prescribe the course OF studies and the books 10
De used In the schools: but no books shall be
changed unless by a vote OF birds or the whole
board anu The books In all the schools In the sew
eral districts shall be uniform.
The board shall also make and execute such by-
laws, rules and regulations for the management
OF TIE schools as they may deem necessary and
They shall cause an annual examination OF all
the public schools and shall make a writ
Ten report annually. 56c.
SIC q Tn board OF trustees shall divide them
selves into as many pafate sub-boards as these
may be school Districts for The exercise OF practi-
cal supervision over the public schools placed
un1er their jurisdiction, seyeraiy subject at ali
times " the control OF the board OF trustees"